VTWC Cancellations Weekend Sat 8th/Sun 9th July

[Huntergreed]

Today VTWC Announced

There will be several cancelled train services on both Friday 7 and Saturday 8 July 2017. If you do have to travel you'll need to plan carefully and allow longer to get to your destination. We'd hate for you to end up stuck, so please check National Rail Enquiries before you start your journey.

We’re truly sorry for any inconvenience caused.

They claimed the cause of these cancelled services is due to a currently unknown operational issue.

Does anyone know any information regarding the cause of this major disruption and when this disruption will be resolved?

 

[dk1]

They got mullered last weekend for blaming drivers for not agreeing to work overtime. So glad they didn't dare do this again. Let's see how this one pans out.

 

[Starmill]

Any details? Or even a link? I see no "announcement".

 

[RJ21]

It's on the homepage as spanner in the works, very bland statement with no list just check NRE before travelling. Seems my plans to get to Dumfries & back on Saturday are unaffected, barring having to drive out to Warrington due to not being able to use Northern services to get out to the WCML.

 

[Starmill]

Interesting image...


https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/spanner

How will my journey be affected...

The short answer is yes.

... OK?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Hoping they dont cancel my journey on Sunday as due to the Northern strike, which I fully support, I have only 1 bite at the connectional apple on Sunday before the service fizzles out.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Got a 1st Advance from Stoke to Manchester tomorrow so hoping there isn't too much disruption!

 

[Joe Paxton]

They got mullered last weekend for blaming drivers for not agreeing to work overtime. So glad they didn't dare do this again. Let's see how this one pans out.

Though essentially that was accurate, wasn't it? - i.e. the full service couldn't run because not enough drivers had volunteered for overtime.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Relying on over time to provide your core service is calculated gamble I've seen plenty of firms try and do it over the years and it never works out perfectly.

 

[Blindtraveler]

But admiting the weekend TT relies on overtime maybe isnt the cleverest/smartest thing to do? As we saw they got a less than easy time from the industry and whilst public sympathy may have been what they were after the way the PR people handled it, which was well below their usual standard it must be said (the work experience kids let lose)? Didnt get them much as from my observations showed that the public instead sided with the drivers.

Thankfully the booking I have was made direct through them so if they care to send me a nice little Email then I at least have some time to try and deal with it.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Relying on over time to provide your core service is calculated gamble I've seen plenty of firms try and do it over the years and it never works out perfectly.

Doesn't the whole railway rely on overtime, especially at the weekend?

Something that no TOC on its own seems up for dealing with - i.e. an industry wide change of approach is needed.

 

[Carlisle]

Relying on over time to provide your core service is calculated gamble I've seen plenty of firms try and do it over the years and it never works out perfectly.

Very true, however i believe it's already been established this forum that unions instructing their members not to work overtime (weather they would or not) amounts to a form of industrial action and is actually illegal in countries like France

 

[dk1]

Very true, however i believe it's already been established this forum that unions instructing their members not to work overtime (weather they would or not) amounts to a form of industrial action and is actually illegal in countries like France

Whenever it's happened on my patch the union has never officially been involved. It's always word of mouth with nobody actually wanting there name associated.

 

[Carlisle]

Whenever it's happened on my patch the union has never officially been involved. It's always word of mouth with nobody actually wanting there name associated.

Ok cheees for explaining that, so it'll either get quietly settled or possibly escalate into a full on official dispute

 

[A0wen]

Doesn't the whole railway rely on overtime, especially at the weekend?

Something that no TOC on its own seems up for dealing with - i.e. an industry wide change of approach is needed.

Another one of the issues that BR bequeathed to the rail network when it was privatised. Alongside the byzantine fare structure which again has never been properly dealt with.

 

[peter166]

VT have cancellations today listed on their website under the Spanner in the Works heading.
I have just received an email to say that my train tomorrow (Saturday) is cancelled at 10.50 from Milton Keynes to Stoke.
The cancellarions for tomorrow do not yet appear to be listed on the VT website

 

[peter166]

Just checked again and there is now a long list of cancellations for tomorrow !!

 

[mikestone1952]

This weekend looks to be worse. Numerous cancellations today hidden under "Spanner in the Works" with, journey check only showing the extra stops in other trains!
;
Complete STP service tomorrow - two tph Mcr/West Mids, no Euston-Chesters, Holyheads running west of Crewe only except for 09.10 down, three hour gaps in down Liverpools, Euston-Birmingham-Glasgow terminate Preston, Euston-Glasgow stopping at Crewe.

 

[gka472l]

This weekend looks to be worse. Numerous cancellations today hidden under "Spanner in the Works" with, journey check only showing the extra stops in other trains!
;
Complete STP service tomorrow - two tph Mcr/West Mids, no Euston-Chesters, Holyheads running west of Crewe only except for 09.10 down, three hour gaps in down Liverpools, Euston-Birmingham-Glasgow terminate Preston, Euston-Glasgow stopping at Crewe.

Liverpool's look alright tomorrow, it's tonight where Liverpool suffers from more cancellations with 3 up and 3 down services cancelled https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/spanner

 

[itfcfan]

Wow - yes. It looks like a radically different timetable for Saturday.

Any crystal ball readers (or informed sources!) know what's likely on the Holyhead to Euston line on Sunday? Maybe a previous experience?

 

[northwichcat]

Keep away from the Manchester to Cardiff services then - if there's a risk some Virgin services via Wilmslow might not run and Northern aren't running any services to Wilmslow - the ATW ones will be extremly busy!

 

[daikilo]

Very true, however i believe it's already been established this forum that unions instructing their members not to work overtime (weather they would or not) amounts to a form of industrial action and is actually illegal in countries like France

In France, there needs to be a works council agreement concerning planned overtime. As such, any subsequent withdrawal of work requires the agreed period of early warning and a justification. If that is respected then it is not illegal as such. Note however that physically preventing people from performing pre-agreed and safe work is illegal.

 

[All Line Rover]

Very little mention by VTWC of the reason behind the cancellations. Surely they're not deliberately trying to keep things quiet?

EDIT: But National Rail Enquiries is now honest about the being problems caused by a shortage of train crew.

 

[All Line Rover]

Today the last off-peak train to Birmingham of the afternoon (14:43), which follows the cancelled 14:23, is a 9 car Pendolino. The 15:23 peak train is an 11 car Pendolino. Amazing diagramming, as per the usual.

 

[setdown]

Maybe this will only be a short period of disruption then? Appears agreement may have been reached:
https://twitter.com/kevlindsayaslef/status/883359541345353733

Deal reached with @VirginTrains on pay. The deal is an increase of 9% including the 34 hour week settlement. Details available from reps

 

[ValleyLines142]

Keep away from the Manchester to Cardiff services then - if there's a risk some Virgin services via Wilmslow might not run and Northern aren't running any services to Wilmslow - the ATW ones will be extremly busy!

ATW aren't even running a full service either - Hereford to Shrewsbury is replacement bus! So fun and games for all! Shrewsbury to Manchester still running.

Had a personal email from VT saying my train has been cancelled - going to instead try and get on an XC service from Stoke to Manchester instead but can't imagine it being particularly pleasant!

 

[peter166]

9% & 34 hour week - No wonder they agreed to it, who wouldn't?
Its alright for some, unlike those in the public sector !

 

[driver_m]

9% & 34 hour week - No wonder they agreed to it, who wouldn't?
Its alright for some, unlike those in the public sector !

It's 3.2% as a pure pay rise which was the RPI in Feb the rest of it involves selling some conditions such as the prep.
Yeah my heart goes out to the public sector workers, I want them to have a substantial pay rise but that requires this country to get rid of the Tories.

 

[PHILIPE]

It's 3.2% as a pure pay rise which was the RPI in Feb the rest of it involves selling some conditions such as the prep.
Yeah my heart goes out to the public sector workers, I want them to have a substantial pay rise but that requires this country to get rid of the Tories.

They had their chance on June 8th to get rid of them but the majority didn't want to. Mind you. things could be somewhat different now if there was an Election called. especially in view of the public sector debate. I would like to see a Labour Government but not run by the present hierarchy with their extremist views and in the hands of Momentum.

 

[joncombe]

Hmm and yet further up the Virgin Trains website front page it says "All Routes Live Update : No Issues". You have to scroll further down to see the information about cancelled trains today. Surely lots of cancelled trains is not "No Issues"